MOLA-2 Instrument Specifications

MOLA-2
front view back (detailed) view

• General MOLA Instrument Specs
  • Mass: 25.85 kg
  • Power consumption: 34.2 W
  • Daily Laser & E-box Temperature Plot and Data
  • Mechanical: see Structural Analysis and Loads Group (721.3), MOLA Mechanical Analysis
• Transmitter
  • diode pumped, Q-switched Nd:YAG laser
  • Wavelength: 1064 nm
  • Pulse rate: 10 Hz
  • Energy: 48 mJ/pulse (at arrival at Mars; will degrade with time)
  • Laser spot: 0.4 mrad
• Receiver
  • Mirror: 50-cm parabolic
  • Detector: silicon-avalanche photodiode
  • Field-of-view: 0.85 mrad
• Electronics
  • 80C86 microprocessor
  • TIU frequency: 100 MHz
  • Filter channel widths (nsec): 20, 60, 180, 540
  • Range measurement resolution: 37.5 cm
  • Data rate: 618 bps continuous
• Resolution
  • Vertical precision (shot-to-shot): 37.5 cm
  • Absolute vertical accuracy: <10 m (depends on accuracy of reconstruction of radial spacecraft orbit)
  • Surface spot size: 130 m
  • Along-track shot spacing: 330 m
  • Across-track shot spacing: depends on mapping orbit and will vary with latitude

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Direct inquiries to: dsmith@tharsis.gsfc.nasa.gov